Adult District Court

Contact Information

Overview

The Adult District Court Division handles criminal cases involving felony offenses committed in Larimer County or Jackson County. Those two counties make up the Eighth Judicial District of Colorado. Felony cases include offenses such as homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, identity theft and drug offenses. There are six classes of felony offenses in Colorado. Class 1 felony offenses are the most serious and Class 6 are the least serious.

Frequently Asked Questions

A felony is a criminal offense which is punishable by a sentence the Colorado Department of Corrections. A misdemeanor is a criminal offense which is punishable by a sentence to a fine or the county jail.

The District Court handles all criminal cases which include a felony charge and all criminal cases where the person charged is a juvenile under the age of 18 years of age. The County Court handles all criminal cases involving misdemeanors, traffic offenses and traffic infractions.

You should contact the court as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of a warrant being issued for your arrest. If you have a bondsman, you should also contact them and advise them that you missed your court date.

By statute, the District Attorney's Office is responsible to prosecute crimes which have been charged following an investigation by a law enforcement agency such as the police or sheriff's office. To report a crime you should contact your local police or sheriff's office.

A preliminary hearing is a hearing before a judge to determine if it is more probable than not that the defendant committed the felony offenses for which the defendant has been charged. If the judge finds that probable cause exists then the defendant is bound over for trial. If the judge does not find probable cause exists then the felony charges are dismissed.

Colorado statutes authorize a person to plead guilty to a criminal offense but to postpone sentencing on that offense for a period of time not to exceed two years on a misdemeanor or four years on a felony. During this postponement period, the defendant must remain law abiding, pay restitution and court costs, and complete any conditions set by the court such as drug/alcohol treatment, domestic violence treatment, mental health treatment and useful public service work. At the end of the postponement period, if the defendant has fully complied with the conditions of his deferred sentence, the defendant can withdraw his guilty plea and the charge is dismissed. However, if the defendant fails to fully comply with the conditions of his deferred sentence, the court will sentence the defendant upon his previously entered guilty plea.

If you have a concern about how your case is proceeding, you may contact us. If you are represented by an attorney, we are prohibited from discussing your case with you. You will need to address these concerns with your attorney.

Drug Court is an alternative to the regular criminal justice process in both adult and juvenile court. Offenders who have committed non-violent crimes relating to drug abuse and addiction problems are eligible for this program. Drug Court utilizes the focused involvement of the Court, probation, treatment providers, and others involved in the criminal justice system to increase direct supervision of offenders, coordinate public resources, and expedite case processing. Through Drug Court, offenders are given the tools and support to make positive changes in their lives and break the cycle of alcohol and drug use, criminal behavior, and incarceration.